Francis k



Patented nec. 3,191.

F. K. FASSETT.

BRAKE BEAM.

y No. 637,955.

LN M d U UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS K. FASSETT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,A'` CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BRAKE-BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming 'para of Letters Patent Ne. 687,955, catedDecember e, 1901.

Application filed July 22, 1901. Serial No. 63,258. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS K. FAssErT, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Brake-Beams, of which the'following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying draw-v ings, forming apart of this specilication, in

improvement in brake-beams of that type known as trussed brake-beams.

My improved brake-beam comprehends the use of a compression member,preferably in the form of a tube, a strut located about the middle ofsaid compression member,said strut being provided with an opening forreceiving a brake-lever, and a tension member in the form of acontinuous looped rod, the bent ends thereof engaging movable blocksar'- ranged exteriorly the brake-heads. Means are provided for adjustingthe blocks along the brake-heads, whereby tension may be placed in thetension-rod and a camber produced in the compression member, so that thebeam is resilient to the extent that suddenlyapplied loads will notpermanently set the beams. .4

The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of a beamof the character described, enabling the parts to be easily assembled,which will permit of repairs being easily and quickly made.

With these objects in view the invention .consists in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as Ywillhereinafter be described and afterward Apointed, out in the claims.

In the drawings, A indicates the tubular compression member, which ispreferably in the form of a wrought-iron pipe or pipe of other material,the ends of said pipe being in- 'clined or beveled, as shown at a.

B represents the strut formed with an eye 'fb at its rear end, throughwhich the compression member passes. This strut receives thebrakelever,as is well understood. The outer end of strut B is providedWith recesses or seats for the tension-rod, as shown.

C indicates the brake-heads, whose front faces are of usualconstruction, said brakehead being provided with a socket or seat whosebottom walls are inclined, so as to coperate with the inclined orbeveled ends of the compression member. By this constructionit will beobserved that when the brake-head is seated on the end of thecompression member the beveled ends of the latter engaging the bottomwalls of the heads will prevent said heads from turning when the headsare seated home. In fact the heads have no inclination to turn, as theconnection therebetween and the compression member is such that theheads are centered in their position.

Extending rearwardly from the brake-heads are lugs c, which lugs arepreferably perforated for the passage of a bolt d. This bolt passesthrough an opening in a sliding block, which block forms a saddle fortheend of the tension member. Bolt cl is provided with a nut on its rearend, which impinges against the lugs c. The `head of the bolt ispreferably square and is so arranged that when in position it isprevented from turning by the side face of the brake-head.

E indicates the tension member, which is n pression member aresubstantially at right angles to the plane or axis of the tension member'and that the outer side faces of the brakeber.

heads are at right angles to the plane or axis of the compressionmember. By this oonstruction When the bolts d are tightened thesaddle-blocks D are pulled rearwardly and, being guided by the outerfaces of the brakeheads, will travel in paths tangential to the arcmovement of the outer ends of the tension member which are describedfrom the end of the strut. The rearward movement of the saddle-blockswill draw the bent ends of the tension member rearwardly and force thebrake-heads against the ends of the compression member. At the same timethe compression member Will be pulled forwardly, producingabendorcambertherein. As much tension may be placed in the tension member,and consequently as much camber may be imparted to the compressionmember, as desired. The inclined or beveled ends of the compressionmember tend at all times to seat the brake-heads firmly in position, andas the inclined ends of the compression member are substantially atright angles to the direction of pull or strain in the tension-rods itis obvious that the brake-heads have no tendency to leave their homeposition.

It Will of course be understood that nutlocks may be provided on theends of the bolts cl, if desired. Byprovidingnut-locksthe compressionmember can be cambered, and when once adjusted it is ready CO be placedin service,and any tampering With nuts on the ends of the bolts d willbe noticeable by observing the condition of the nut-locks. Iny additionto this these nutlocks serve as means for locking.

the saddle-blocks in position and preserving the original camber in thebeam. This tension member, as above described, is in the form of acontinuous rod lying entirely on one side and in front of thecompression mem- So far as I am aware I am the first to employ a tensionmember in the form of a continuous rod, the ends thereof being bent Ilaround the saddle-blocks movable on the outer faces of the brake-heads,andto provide means for adjusting the saddle-blocks-that is, moving thesaddleblocks rearwardlywhereby tension may be placed in the tensionmember and the compression member cambered.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my invention may be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described Without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A brake-beam of the character described, comprising a compressionmember, a strut, a tension member, said tension member being in the formof a looped rod, lying Wholly on one side of the compression member, andmeans for electing a relative movement be tween the ends ofthecompression member, l

ee'aess and the looped ends of the tension member i substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination With a f compression member, of a strut and a tensionmember in the form of a continuous rod bent around the brake-heads onthe ends of the compression member, and saddle-blocks bearing againstthe brake-heads and movable independently thereof; substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with a compression member having beveled ends, ofbrake-heads mounted upon the ends of said compression member, a strut,and a tension member; substantially as described.

4:. In a trussed brake-beam,the combination with a tubular compressionmember, formed With beveled ends, of brake-heads, provided with socketsfor receiving the ends of the compression member, the bottom Walls ofsaid sockets being inclined to coperate With the beveled ends of thecompression member, a strut, and a tension member, substantially asdescribed. v

5. ln a brake-beam, the combination with a compression member, of astrut, and a tension member formed of a continuous rod looped aroundythe brake-heads on the ends of the compression member, said rodconverging at its middle portion and being seated in grooves in the endof the strut; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a compression member, of a strut, and a tensionmember, said tension member being in the form of a continuous rod loopedaround the brake-u heads, and saddle-blocks bearing against the outerfaces of the brake-heads, and movable independently thereof, saidsaddle-blocks res ceiving the bent ends of the tension member;substantially as described.

7. In a brake-beam, the combination with a compression member, of astrut, and a tension member, brake-heads on the ends of the compressionmember, blocks movable along the outer faces of said brake-heads, theends of said tension member being secured to said blocks, and means formoving the said blocks along the faces of the brake-heads and lock@ ingthem in adjusted positions; substantially as described.

8. In a brake-beam, the combination with a compression member, of astrut, brakeheads on the ends of the compression member, saidbrake-heads being provided with seats on their outer faces forreceivingmovable blocks, movable blocks seated against the outer faces of saidbrake-heads, a tension-rod secured to said movable blocks, and seated onthe end of the strut, means for moving said blocks along the outer facesof the brake heads, and devices for locking said blocks in adjustedpositions, whereby, tension may be placed in the tension-rod, and thecompression member cambered; substantially as described. l

9. In a brake-beam, the combination with a tubular compression member'A,having its IOC) ends beveled or inclined, of brake-heads mounted on theends of said compression member, a strut, a tension member, in the formof a continuous looped rod Whose ends are bent around the brake-heads,saddleblocks D receiving the bent ends of the tension member, saidsaddle-blocks being movable along the faces of the brake-heads, and nutsor bolts d engaging said saddle-blocks and said brake-heads;substantially as described.

10. The combination with a compression member having brake-headsarranged on its ends, of a strut, a tension member, saddleblocks movableindependently of the brakelieads and in a direction tangential to thearc movement of the ends of the tension member, and means for adjustingsaid saddle-blocks and locking them in adjusted positions; substantiallyasdescriloed.

l1. In a brake-beam, the combination with a tubular compression member,of a strut slotted to receive the brake-lever, the end of said struthaving seats, brake-heads on the ends of the tubular compression member,and

a tension member in the form of a continuous rod bent around thebrake-heads and having the middle portions thereof seated in the end ofthe strut; substantially as described.

12. In a brake-beam, the combination with a compression member, of astrut provided With grooves in its outer end, brake-heads at the end ofthe compression member for taking the end thrust thereof, a tensionmember in the form of a continuous rod looped around the brake-heads andhaving its middle portions seated in the grooves in the end of thestrut, and means for moving the looped ends of the tension member pastthe axis of the compression member; substantially as described.

In testimon5T whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence oftwo Witnesses, this 20th day of July, 1901.

FRANCIS K. FASSETT;

